The opportunity for local residents to enroll in CPS-3 is being made possible in partnership with The Foundry United Methodist Church, which has opened their doors as an enrollment site on Sunday, October 27 from 10:00am – 2:00pm to allow their members and the greater public to participate in the study.

“We couldn’t let this opportunity pass us by,” said Dr. Godfrey Hubert, Senior Pastor of The Foundry United Methodist Church. “All of our lives have been affected by this disease. Too many of us have lost a beloved friend or family member. As a church community, this is something proactive we can do. We can help make a difference in our lives, the lives of our children, and all the lives of those who come after us.”

Residents of Smith and surrounding counties have an unprecedented opportunity to participate in a historic study that has the potential to change the face of cancer for future generations. The opportunity for local residents to enroll in CPS-3 is being made possible in partnership with host sites East Texas Medical Center, Tyler Junior College-West Campus, Trinity Mother Frances Hospital and Clinic, and the University of Texas Health Northeast, Tuesday through Friday, October 1-4, 2013. Eligible participants are asked to book an appointment to enroll by going to CancerStudyTX.org or calling 1-888-604-5888.

“Many individuals diagnosed with cancer struggle to answer the question, ‘What caused my cancer?’ In many cases, we don’t know the answer,” said Alpa V. Patel, Ph.D., principal investigator of CPS-3. “CPS-3 will help us better understand what factors cause cancer, and once we know that, we can be better equipped to prevent cancer.” Dr. Patel added, “Our previous cancer prevention studies have been instrumental in helping us identify some of the major factors that can affect cancer risk. CPS-3 holds the best hope of identifying new and emerging cancer risks, and we can only do this if members of the community are willing to become involved.”

The voluntary, long-term commitment by participants is what will produce benefits for decades to come. “Taking an hour or so every few years to fill out a survey – and potentially save someone from being diagnosed with cancer in the future – is a commitment that thousands of volunteer participants have already made. We’re looking for more like-minded individuals to join this effort that we know will save lives and improve the outlook for future generations,” said Dr. Patel.